US Swimmers Detained as Brazilian Officials Question Reported Mugging

Journalists surround American Olympic swimmers Gunnar Bentz, left, and Jack Conger, center, as they leave the police station at Rio International airport early Thursday Aug. 18, 2016. The two were taken off their flight from Brazil to the U.S. on Wednesday by local authorities amid an investigation into a reported robbery targeting Ryan Lochte and his teammates. (AP Photo/Mauro Pimentel)

Three U.S. Olympic swimmers were detained in Rio de Janeiro after doubts surfaced about their claims of a robbery targeting Ryan Lochte and teammates.

Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz, and Jimmy Feigen planned to meet with Brazilian authorities after officials called for them to remain in the country for questioning, The Associated Press reported. Conger and Bentz were pulled from a flight at the Rio de Janeiro airport, and Lochte already had returned to the United States when officials called for their passports to be seized.

U.S. consulate representatives arrived at the airport and were prepared "to provide all appropriate consular assistance" in the investigation.

Judge Keyla Blanc ordered the swimmers' passports seized after finding discrepancies in the statements they provided about the reported robbery.

"All are represented by counsel and being appropriately supported by the USOC and the U.S. Consulate in Rio," USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky told NBC News.

The court said Lochte and Feigen gave contradictory descriptions of the incident, including the time and the number of robbers, NBC News reported.

Lochte denied that the robbery report was false in an interview with the "Today" show's Matt Lauer.

"I wouldn't make up a story like this nor would the others — as a matter of fact we all feel it makes us look bad," Lauer quoted Lochte as saying. "We're victims in this and we're happy that we're safe."

Lochte reportedly was unaware of any skepticism about the story when he left Brazil two days before the order to remain was issued, CNN reported.

"Had they asked, he would have stayed and assisted. They still have not reached out to ask for additional information," Lochte's lawyer, Jeff Ostrow, told CNN.

Lochte described the robbery to "Today," saying he was pulled over while in a taxi by police officers who took their money and wallets but left their cell phones and credentials.

Twitter users shared skepticism and many reactions to the controversy.

Lochte is in the worst possible situation paranoid you would think up, after drunkenly lying to your mom.